President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s generous rewards to the Super Falcons following their victory at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) have sparked widespread debate across the country.
To celebrate the team’s outstanding performance, President Tinubu announced a reward of $100,000 for each player, $50,000 for each member of the technical crew, a three-bedroom flat in the Renewed Hope Estate, and national honours (Order of the Niger, OON) for the entire squad and staff.
While many Nigerians have praised the President for recognizing and celebrating excellence, others have criticized the gesture, questioning the timing and scale of the rewards, especially when some public sector workers are reportedly still awaiting their salaries.
In response to the mixed reactions, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, took to social media to defend the move.
He wrote: “When you remember that Multichoice, the organizer of the BBNaija reality show, is offering the winner a ₦150 million grand prize, you wonder why some Nigerians are unappreciative of President Tinubu’s rewards to the Super Falcons. President Tinubu has rewarded excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry, and the undying Nigerian spirit.”
The Presidency emphasized that the reward was not only about football but also about promoting national pride and encouraging excellence across all sectors of Nigerian life.
